** COMPLETED WITH THANKS **Paul FOUNTAIN.. who was he really??

[ShaunJ]

Karen,

1) is there a place of birth shown on the 1911 census? Is he the Paul Fountain in Epsom aged 63? - apologies - I can see now that it was Melton Mowbray.

2) do you have the marriage certificate - is there a father's name?

[Necromancer]

His marriage shows no parents and the witnesses were not related that we can tell..

He does mention his father on several occasions in his "autobiography" but not by name.

His age on the 1911 census has his birth year as about 1849.

[trish1120]

Sorry I cannot find exact ref for what I found earlier of his possible arrival from Canada

I think I just searched Paul Fountain, birth 1850, England  and then just went to Immigration/Emmigration records but am not sure now. ( have been off on another challenging search)

So we are looking for a John/Paul Fountain ?? who arrived back in England to marry 1910. Some were just J. Fountain and one a Mr Fountain.

Trish

OR  ANYTHING of his life in Canada/America that could help track down his birth name.

A real challenge

[deb usa]

Hi trish

He seems to quiite a wanderer...almost gypsy like. I am just worried that Fountain as not his real name.

I am also looking for any Fountain who may have been a traveller in the circus as his dad dragged him off to the circus.

From Karenlee ;

*There is a short, what we asssume to be autobiographical piece, where he refers to himself variously as John or Johnny.  Claims to have been named for an uncle... Pastor Jack.  Speaks of his mother's brother George, who had a business in Cheltenham in about the 1860's.  Tells of a cousin Silas who went to Canada, and whom he subsequently joined in about 1866.*

looking for Silas ....

[trish1120]

Hi Deb,

Yes, you are right I have been trying to sort this one too.

If he was a Fountain, born Leicestershire, then there are only a couple of marriages ( presuming his parents married post 1837) to check out.

I have to get off soon as it is late here but if no one else has will try to find 1851 census details against these marriages.
Also the elusive Silas Surname same as Johns Mothers possibly?
Pastor Jack could be a performer??

Trish

[jimmijam]

Hi Karenlee,

If he's still published, why not try to contact his publisher?

Best wishes, Jimmijam

[trish1120]

Silas Fountain, 1891 Cenus of Canada
Couple of them, born 1866 and 1870 and couple of possible American records too.

Off to bed,
Trish

[deb usa]

Hi

found Silas in Canada ... but not right POB and DOB ....

reading some articles it seems that he was imprisoned in Mexico. (he was rescued by his 'Yankee' friends). He says he spent 3 months in Mexico ...the book was published in 1901 where he mentions this.

Also, in another article, he says because of his being a cripple and being "in irons" he had to give up the love of the PRAIRIES.
So I am wondering if this could be him in my previous post:
Paul Fountain
1905 - Prairie, Keokuk, Iowa
postal address : Gibson



 am thinking that his travels would result in him not being around for many of the censuses.

[deb usa]

a picture of him


http://www.rootschat.com/links/06bw/


he also says that he arrived in the US just after the Civil War 1861-1865